Calexico

Musician — Arizona

01Profile

A Calexico Photo

03Interview

Name
Joey Burns

What do you do?
In addition to being Genevieve and Twyla's Dad, I play guitar and sing in the music group Calexico.

Where are you from?
Tucson, Arizona

Describe your style in three words?
Gem and Mineral.

Which subcultures have had an enduring effect on you?
The D.I.Y. work ethic of Indie Rock and Punk have always been at the root of influence musically and in regards to reaching out to others.

If you could spend an hour with anyone from history?
D. Boon from the Minutemen. I'd love to get his take on how things are shaping up these days globally. I could use some of his punk rock poetry.

Another you? Any other career that would have appealed?
Architecture and growing organic vineyards in the Ribera Del Duero region in Spain.

Best Gig you have ever been to?
The Minutemen at The Music Machine in Los Angeles as well as The Dirty Three at Madame Jojo's in London or Paris.

Of all the venues you’ve played, which is your favourite, and why?
Great American Music Hall in San Fransisco has a gorgeous interior design and sounds good there as well. I used to think that there were ghosts lingering around the balcony and carved pillars that made the sound swell to its fullest potential.

The Olympia in Paris is a pretty special venue as well. We played there in 2003 at the time the Iraq war had just started. I told the crowd that not all Americans were in favour of the war and everyone breathed a breath of both relief and sadness.


Calexico's latest single 'End Of The World With You' is out now. Calexico will release their ninth album 'The Thread That Keeps Us' on January 26th (2018) via City Slang Records, with European tour dates planned for March 2018. The Arizona band's career has included recording a version of Bob Dylan's 'Goin' to Acapulco' for the Dylan biopic 'I'm Not There', and lending three songs to the soundtrack of Shane Meadows' 2004 film 'Dead Man's Shoes'.

04Playlist Notes

First track you played on repeat?
Brian Eno 'Apollo: Atmospheres and Soundtracks' I listened to this all the time at night growing up. Curled up in a bean bag chair in the dark imagining walking on the moon or exploring space. 'The Secret Place' from the album... but really it was the whole album that I played on repeat.

Song that defines the teenage you?
'Camera' by R.E.M. from the album 'Reckoning'.

What was the last piece of music you bought?
King Krule 'The OOZ' play the track 'Dum Surfer'.

One record you would keep forever?
Latin Playboys (1994) featuring members of Los Lobos, Tchad Blake and Mitchell Froom. Cool Lo-Fi shit from East Los Angeles. Check out the song 'Viva La Raza'.

A song lyric that has inspired you?
Vic Chesnutt - 'Sponge' - dig this line:

"Pleasure is melting like chocolate
My blue ribbon gumption is gone
All my gravy must have soaked into something
And the world... is a sponge"

A song that people wouldn’t expect you to like?
Missy Elliott 'Work It' turned up loud on the tour bus at 2 am.

A song you wished you had written?
'Con Toda Palabra' by Lhasa.

Any new bands you are listening to right now?
Emme Woods from Scotland 'I've Been Running'.
Kacy and Clayton from Canada ('Strange Country' cool tune).
Gaby Moreno from Guatemala.

03Interview

Name
Joey Burns

What do you do?
In addition to being Genevieve and Twyla's Dad, I play guitar and sing in the music group Calexico.

Where are you from?
Tucson, Arizona

Describe your style in three words?
Gem and Mineral.

Which subcultures have had an enduring effect on you?
The D.I.Y. work ethic of Indie Rock and Punk have always been at the root of influence musically and in regards to reaching out to others.

If you could spend an hour with anyone from history?
D. Boon from the Minutemen. I'd love to get his take on how things are shaping up these days globally. I could use some of his punk rock poetry.

Another you? Any other career that would have appealed?
Architecture and growing organic vineyards in the Ribera Del Duero region in Spain.

Best Gig you have ever been to?
The Minutemen at The Music Machine in Los Angeles as well as The Dirty Three at Madame Jojo's in London or Paris.

Of all the venues you’ve played, which is your favourite, and why?
Great American Music Hall in San Fransisco has a gorgeous interior design and sounds good there as well. I used to think that there were ghosts lingering around the balcony and carved pillars that made the sound swell to its fullest potential.

The Olympia in Paris is a pretty special venue as well. We played there in 2003 at the time the Iraq war had just started. I told the crowd that not all Americans were in favour of the war and everyone breathed a breath of both relief and sadness.


Calexico's latest single 'End Of The World With You' is out now. Calexico will release their ninth album 'The Thread That Keeps Us' on January 26th (2018) via City Slang Records, with European tour dates planned for March 2018. The Arizona band's career has included recording a version of Bob Dylan's 'Goin' to Acapulco' for the Dylan biopic 'I'm Not There', and lending three songs to the soundtrack of Shane Meadows' 2004 film 'Dead Man's Shoes'.

04Playlist Notes

First track you played on repeat?
Brian Eno 'Apollo: Atmospheres and Soundtracks' I listened to this all the time at night growing up. Curled up in a bean bag chair in the dark imagining walking on the moon or exploring space. 'The Secret Place' from the album... but really it was the whole album that I played on repeat.

Song that defines the teenage you?
'Camera' by R.E.M. from the album 'Reckoning'.

What was the last piece of music you bought?
King Krule 'The OOZ' play the track 'Dum Surfer'.

One record you would keep forever?
Latin Playboys (1994) featuring members of Los Lobos, Tchad Blake and Mitchell Froom. Cool Lo-Fi shit from East Los Angeles. Check out the song 'Viva La Raza'.

A song lyric that has inspired you?
Vic Chesnutt - 'Sponge' - dig this line:

"Pleasure is melting like chocolate
My blue ribbon gumption is gone
All my gravy must have soaked into something
And the world... is a sponge"

A song that people wouldn’t expect you to like?
Missy Elliott 'Work It' turned up loud on the tour bus at 2 am.

A song you wished you had written?
'Con Toda Palabra' by Lhasa.

Any new bands you are listening to right now?
Emme Woods from Scotland 'I've Been Running'.
Kacy and Clayton from Canada ('Strange Country' cool tune).
Gaby Moreno from Guatemala.

 

05Videos

Calexico - 'End Of The World With You' [Official Lyric Video]